Jenny and the other young people at her aunt’s Christmas house party are out in the woods cutting greenery for decorations. They spy a mistletoe ball high in a tree and begin to play a game of running beneath the mistletoe. The forfeit for being caught ~ a kiss. Jenny wants to outrun Lord Somersby and avoid his kiss. Or does she?

Today’s snippet follows immediately after last week’s.

A sharp movement to her side drew her attention to Alec, standing beside Celinda. He’d crossed his arms over his chest, his face puckered into a frown that somehow bespoke not only anger but sadness.

Somersby’s arms came up to snare her.

She broke her gaze from Alec, ducked under the earl’s outstretched arm, and spun around him. A glimpse of his wide, astonished eyes when he whirled, clutching at the air where she had just been, spurred Jenny on as she shot across the clearing.

Somersby swore under his breath and chased after her, but she arrived on the far side a good three steps ahead of him. The crowd cheered as he came puffing up beside her, a thundercloud of annoyance distorting his face. “My compliments, Miss Crowley, on making me look the fool.”

“It is a woman’s prerogative to change her mind, is it not, Lord Somersby?” Jenny tossed her head, the glow from her exertion and the sweet rush of victory sending satisfaction humming through her.

Jenny Crowley has been duped! At her eighteenth birthday celebration her parents announce that instead of having the London Season she’s dreamed of for years, Jenny has been betrothed from birth to Alexander Isley, son of family friends and heir to a title. A distraught Jenny refuses point-blank to marry Alec, and when her aunt offers to whisk her away to a Christmas house party, complete with many eligible young bachelors, Jenny jumps at the chance to enjoy a variety of entertainments, be courted, and perhaps fall in love.

Alec Isley is between a rock and a hard place. He desires a marriage with Jenny no more than she does, but when his family’s dire financial status is revealed, he follows Jenny to the house party in hopes of convincing her to marry him after all. When he discovers who else is courting her there, Alec is frantic to keep her from making a dreadful mistake. Struggling with new-found feelings for his childhood friend, can Alec convince her of his love in time to save her from being ruined under the mistletoe?

And don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.